World Cancer Day 2023: discover the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol for cancer management and beyond

• The scope of opportunities to improve treatment options through cannabidiol (CBD)-based drug discovery and development are expanding, especially in the field of cancer.
• This World Cancer Day, 4^th of February, we’re reflecting on the potential therapeutic benefits of CBD to support patients with cancer on their road to recovery. 
• Read on to discover the latest science unlocking the possibilities of CBD-based therapy in cancer treatment, as well as the role of CBD in other important therapeutic areas, like anxiety-related disorders.  

What is all the fuss about CBD?

CBD is a bioactive cannabinoid compound derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. CBD is top-of-mind in the pharmaceutical world due to its effects throughout the entire body and non-psychoactive properties. With 200 million people already using cannabis, and 40% doing so for medicinal reasons, it’s not surprising that harnessing the full therapeutic power of CBD has become a key initiative.¹ Today, over 200 clinical trials are underway to explore the clinical relevance of CBD-based drugs in different settings, including cancer care.² As World Cancer Day fast approaches, dsm-firmenich is reflecting on the current evidence supporting the benefits of CBD in patients with cancer. Read on to discover the latest scientific findings.

CBD and cancer: new insights

Cancer is a highly prevalent and complex disease that, despite advancements in medical care, remains difficult to treat. To tackle the unmet need for better treatment options, researchers have been exploring the potential anti-cancer properties of CBD. New evidence reveals promising results in two difficult-to-treat malignancies – breast and lung cancer.  

1. CBD for breast cancer
   
   Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide, and the most common cancer overall.³ Scientists reveal shocking predictions stating that by 2040 the breast cancer burden will increase to more than 3 million new cases per year (an increase of 40% from 2020) and more than 1 million deaths per year (an increase of 50% from 2020).⁴ A hormone therapy drug called tamoxifen is often used in patients with breast cancer to reduce the risk of it recurring. A new study has investigated the role of CBD in several breast cancer cell lines, with and without tamoxifen. Results show that CBD alone was able to induce cell death in all cell lines, and when used in combination with tamoxifen, synergistic effects were achieved – leading to enhanced anti-cancer function.⁵ These important results build on previous data demonstrating the anti-proliferative effects of CBD on cancer cells and supports use of the molecule as a combination therapy for breast cancer patients.
   
   
2. CBD for lung cancer
   
   Lung cancers are extremely difficult to treat due to the presence of treatment-resistant lung cancer stem cells – stressing the urgent need for innovative treatment options. Several in-vitro studies found that CBD could induce cell death in lung cancer cell lines and patient-derived tumor cells.⁶ But what’s more interesting is new evidence indicating that CBD targets cancer stem cells too (a population of tumor cells that fuel tumor initiation and can cause relapses). By inducing death in cancer stem cells, CBD helps to decrease the self-renewal of these otherwise treatment-resistant cancer cells.⁷ These encouraging results further spotlight CBD’s substantial anti-cancer properties.

Managing cancer therapy with CBD

Despite improvements in medical care, patients with cancer can still experience distressing symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and pain. Some cannabinoid-based drugs have anti-sickness properties and could be used to treat the debilitating symptoms of cancer and its treatments.⁸ However, these early-stage findings are based on in vitro research, and although evidence looks promising, more scientific research is needed to confirm the benefits of CBD on cancer-related symptoms.

What’s next for CBD in cancer therapy?

It’s fair to say that clinical investigations exploring the potential of CBD-based therapies for cancer have been limited and poorly controlled to date.⁵ In an attempt to combat this, one team in the US has designed the first placebo controlled, randomized clinical trial to rigorously evaluate the ability of CBD to relieve symptoms in patients with advanced cancer.⁹ Results from this study will give valuable feedback on the potential benefits of CBD in palliative care.

CBD beyond cancer

Using CBD as a therapy for difficult-to-treat diseases is expanding beyond cancer too and into the realms of mental health disorders, such as anxiety. With global statistics indicating 5-10% of the population suffer from anxiety-related disorders, it is unsurprising that CBD is gaining interest in this space due to its potential anxiety-relieving effects.^10,11 Findings from a new clinical trial indicated that treatment of moderate-to-severe anxiety with high dose CBD products resulted in symptom reduction with minimal side effects.[iii] This study provides preliminary evidence supporting efficacy and tolerability of high-potency CBD products for anxiety.

With this in mind, the future of CBD in the pharmaceutical landscape looks bright and the market for innovative new CBD-based drugs is full of opportunity. To read more about the untapped potential of cannabinoids, including CBD, download our whitepaper.

dsm-firmenich’s strategic partner, Brains Bioceutical – a pioneer in the cannabinoid space and a global leader in the manufacture of natural-origin cannabinoid API solutions – has recently announced the opening of a state-of-the-art 21,000 sq/ft cannabinoid manufacturing facility in Sandwich, Kent, UK. Together with BSPG Laboratories – a wholly owned subsidiary of Brains Bioceutical – this new site is set to become the global center for cannabinoid research, testing and commercial production commercial production of natural EU GMP APIs.

Senior Director of Pharma and Medical Nutrition at dsm-firmenich, Kelsey Achenbach, spoke on the facility opening, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Brains Bioceutical to enhance our access to cannabinoid research and production capabilities and ultimately continue to expand our API portfolio. Research in cannabinoids is increasing rapidly and their potential in therapeutic areas, such as CNS diseases and mental health treatment, is very exciting. As a purpose-led partner in early-stage drug development, dsm-firmenich has the core competencies – and now extended state-of-the-art research facilities – to support pharmaceutical companies in entering the cannabinoid market with science-backed pharmaceuticals.”

The new facility expansion provides the crucial infrastructure required for Brains Bioceutical and BSPG Laboratories to become one of the world’s leading cannabinoid API manufacturers. BSPG is one of very few companies   supported by the appropriate GMP certification for both human and veterinary use and is registered with the MHRA, the UK authorities, as an API manufacturer for cannabinoids. The team working at the center will focus on furthering preclinical research and clinical trials to provide greater evidence to support the efficacy and safety of cannabinoids on a global scale. 

In partnership with Brains Bioceutical, dsm-firmenich can provide customers with access to the purest THC-free cannabidiol (CBD) API available on the market today. At dsm-firmenich, we continue to advance research into various pioneering technologies to – for example – create a comprehensive formulation toolkit that effectively improves CBD bioavailability, while addressing different market needs and supporting better patient outcomes. In partnership with Brains Bioceutical, we are also exploring the therapeutic potential of a number of other cannabinoid APIs in addition to CBD, including some rare cannabinoid molecules.